REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (RAP), BANGKOK October-December 2010 FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Regional Quarterly Bulletin on Wildlife and National Parks Management Vol. XXXVII : No. 4 Featuring Vol. XXIV: No. 4 Contents Mammals and birds in Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve.... 1 Trans-boundary movement of elephants in eastern Nepal......5 Inventory of wetland fauna and sustainable resource utilization of Bahraiya Lake, Nepal: Issues and future prospects....................................................................... 10 The eco-political perspective: Tiger conservation in Bangladesh as case study................................................ 20 Distribution, demography and conservation status of Sarus Crane in Chittaurgarh District, India........................ 25 Breeding vultures in the wild...............................................30 REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC Kids-to-Forests “For the future of the world!....................... 1 Thai school children and FAO staff sweat together to reforest TIGERPAPER is a quarterly news bulletin degraded area in Kanchanaburi ....................................... 3 dedicated to the exchange of information Kid-to-Forests - A kid’s-eye perspective............................... 4 relating to wildlife and national parks management for the Tree planting ceremony, Nakhon Phanom University, Asia-Pacific Region. Thailand......................................................................... 5 ISSN 1014 - 2789 FAO sees opportunity in Thailand’s biofuel plans, but questions remain............................................................. 6 The role of forests and forestry in the prevention of landslides Address. and rehabilitation of landslide affected areas in Asia............ 8 Interactive sharing of knowledge and experience on restoring TIGERPAPER forest landscapes............................................................. 9 FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Advancing strategic planning in Pacific forestry.....................10 Maliwan Mansion, Phra Atit Road Bangkok, 10200, Thailand Pakistan to extend partnership with the National Forest Tel: (662) 697-4000 Programme Facility..........................................................11 E-mail: [email protected] Preparations for the 2nd Asia-Pacific Forestry Week top Website: http://www.fao.org/world/ the agenda at the 7th APFC Executive Committee Meeting..12 regional/rap/tigerpaper/tigerpaper.htm New RAP Forestry Publications.......................................... 13 RAP Forestry Staff Movement............................................ 15 Editor: Janice Naewboonnien Asia-Pacific Forestry Chips and Clips.................................. 16 Advisor: P. Durst FAO Asia-Pacific Forestry Calendar………………............... 16 TIGERPAPER is dependent upon your free and voluntary The opinions expressed by the contributions in the form of articles, news items, and announcements in contributing authors are not the field of wildlife and nature conservation in the region. In order to necessarily those of FAO. The better serve the n eeds of our readers please write to us and send in the designations employed and the information you have or let us know if there is any information that you presentation of the material in the need. We appreciate receiving your letters and make all efforts to TIGERPAPER do not imply the respond. expression of any opinion on the part of FAO concerning the legal or Front cover: A subadult Mishmi Takin (Budorcas taxicolor) in Dibang constitutional status of any country, Valley. Photo: Anwaruddin Choudhury territority or sea area, or the delimitation of frontiers. Vol. 37: No. 4 October-December 2010 | Mammals and birds in Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve in Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Mammals and birds MAMMALS AND BIRDS IN DIHANG-DIBANG BIOSPHERE RESERVE, ARUNACHAL PRADESH by Anwaruddin Choudhury Introduction ihang-Dibang [notified as Dehang-Debang] sizeable amount of research work, including DBiosphere Reserve (28°26’-29°21’N, 94°21’- birdwatching, was carried out. Starting with 96°31’E) is a poorly-known tract in eastern Choudhury (1994), the flow of publications with vital Arunachal Pradesh, India. It covers 5,111.5 km² data on Siang, Dibang and Lohit basins continued. (4,095 km² is Core Area; Fig. 1) in West Siang, The noteworthy publications and unpublished reports Upper Siang and Dibang Valley districts. It was consulted were Choudhury (2005, 2009), Katti et | notified on 2 September 1998. Physiographically, al. (1992), Singh (1994), Kaul et al. (1995) and the area consists of mountainous country, which is Pawar & Birand (2001). In addition, there were part of the Eastern Himalaya up to the Siang or various trip reports as well, some of which may Dihang River and beyond are the Mishmi Hills. The require a thorough review before being referred to lowest parts are about 500 m asl while the highest in any research report. General information on birds parts are over 5,000 m asl. Tropical wet evergreen found in Arunachal Pradesh (often referred to as forests occur mainly in the lower areas in Siang Assam or NEFA) are found in some synoptic works, gorge. Tropical semi-evergreen forests occur in the notably those of BirdLife International (2001) and same general area where evergreen forest occurs. Hume & Marshall (1879 -1881). Islam & Rahmani Normally such forests are found wherever human (2004) listed the ‘Important Bird Areas’ of the state interference occurred in an evergreen area. The with detailed site accounts. Like mammals, the first higher altitudes have subtropical forest with both book on the birds of Arunachal Pradesh was also broadleaf as well as conifers. Farther up the by Choudhury (2006). Field works were carried out mountains are the temperate forests, both broadleaf in November-December 2002, February 2003 and and conifer. Alpine vegetation occurs between 4,000 March 2004. In November-December 2008, a final and 5,500 m elevation, above the timber line. These visit was made to update the earlier field areas remain snow-covered for the greater part of observations (Choudhury 2010). the year and hence, no tall trees can grow. Results Some available published works on the mammals and birds relevant to the area include McClelland More than 76 species of mammals and 252 species (1839), Thomas (1914), Choudhury (1986, 1996, of birds were recorded during this study. With 2001, 2007), Chatterjee (1989), Borang (2002) and records by other workers, the numbers are 100 and Ringu (2002). Choudhury (2003) produced the first 312 respectively. The list includes two mammals book on the mammals of Arunachal Pradesh. new to science (Mechuka Giant Flying Squirrel Regarding the birds, however, the information from Petaurista mechukaensis and Mishmi Giant Flying both published and unpublished sources was Squirrel P. mishmiensis) and a bird new to India relatively better. The earliest publications were those (Blue-and-white Flycatcher Cyanouptera of Jerdon (1870), and Godwin-Austen (1876). cyanocephala). The Eastern Imperial Eagle Another earlier reference of significance is Ali & Aquila heliaca, Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius Ripley (1948). It was from 1989 onwards that a and Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis are new 111 Vol. 37: No. 4 October-December 2010 | state records for Arunachal Pradesh. The Musk deer, their effect on Takin and galliformes Gongshan Muntjac Muntiacus gongshanensis, was severe. During interactions with villagers and Leaf Muntjac Muntiacus putaoensis, and Gaur hunters in several villages of upper Dibang Valley, Bos gaurus have been recorded for the first time the author came to know that Tibetan poachers in or near the reserve. Some other noteworthy set up camps within Indian territory and kill large species recorded during this study were Red Panda numbers of Takins for meat. They dry the meat Ailurus fulgens, Asian Golden Cat Catopuma at their camps and wait for another group to either temminckii, Marbled Cat Pardofelis marmorata, replace them or take away the dry meat while Tiger Panthera tigris, Snow Leopard Uncia bringing provisions for the camp inmates. This uncia, Takin Budorcas taxicolor, Red Goral exercise continues throughout the entire summer Naemorhedus baileyi, Golden Eagle Aquila months (due to snow fall it is not possible in winter). chrysaetos, Tragopans (Tragopan blythii and T. temminckii), Himalayan Monal Lophophorus Other issues are shifting cultivation, felling of trees, impejanus, Sclater’s Monal L. sclateri and Rufous- construction of roads and major hydro-electric necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis. For some projects. These dams are going to have seriously species such as Red Panda, Takin, Red Goral and adverse impacts on the biosphere reserve as well Sclater’s Monal, the Dihang-Dibang Biosphere as on local communities, the reasons being: a) large Reserve is a stronghold. stretches of forest area will be submerged; b) Mammals and birds in Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve in Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Mammals and birds construction of infrastructure and road networks | Conservation issues and recommendations will further destroy forest habitat; c) more than 50,000 (could be much more if the works progress Poaching of Black bear for bile and gall bladder, simultaneously) labourers from outside Aunachal Musk deer for musk pod and otter for the pelt are Pradesh will be camping near the sites and will cut the most serious conservation issues in and around trees for their use and also deposit waste in the the reserve.